A diver from the Cham Island Maritime Protected Area completes a check on coral reefs in waters off the islands. (Photo:VNA) Quang Nam (VNS/VNA) - Less tourism activities and waste around the ChamIslands – a world biodiversity reserve site – would help the marine ecosystemin waters off the islands recover after the two-month social distancing orderdue to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Experts and staff from the Cham Island Maritime Protected Area (MPA) have madethe statement after returning from a regular inspection on coral reefs andecosystems at eight sites off the islands last week.
They said over-tourism resulted in degradation of the ecosystem off the islandsin recent years.
During the two-month social distancing order, the islands, a popular attractionwelcoming 2,000 tourists each day, did not record any diving tours or boattrips.
“Coral reef coverage was well developed, but we have been collecting detailedinformation for a final report on coral reefs. However, many bottom feederswere recorded in coral reefs, especially holothurian and sea urchins,” said NguyenThi Thao, a worker at the MPA.
“The number of fish species living in the coral reefs was less than in previouschecks.”
Vice director of the MPA, Nguyen Van Vu suggested that the islands reduce thenumber of visitors from a maximum of 3,000 to 1,000 each day to reduce pressureon the marine ecosystem.
He said the islands need a break for marine species and seafood resources torecover.
The islands often receive 5 tonnes of waste each day, which mostly wasin-organic waste from tourists, not including waste water and fresh waterconsumption as well as seafood and forestry products.
According to the MPA, more than 2,700 groups of coral species had been plantedat 10 sites off the islands, and an area of 2,000sq.m of coral reef wasdeveloped following a coral reef restoration project in 2015-17.
The reserve covers more than 33,000ha, including 1,500ha of tropical forestsand 6,700ha of sea, featuring a wide range of marine fauna and flora.
The islands are already overloaded, with a fleet of 152 boats including 145speed boats travelling between Cua Dai Port in Hoi An and the Islands.
A report said the rapid increase of speed boats and fishing vessels was themain reason for 66 percent of sea grass off the islands being destroyed between2009-18.
The islands, 20km off the coast of Hoi An, which was recognised as a WorldBiosphere Reserve in 2009, is one of few places in Vietnam successfullycampaigning against plastic bags./.
VNA
